EFFECTS OF INSTRUMENT-ASSISTED SOFT TISSUE MOBILIZATION (IASTM) ON TRIGGER POINTS OF THE CERVICAL AND LUMBAR REGION AMONG SEDENTARY INDIVIDUALS
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Keywords
IASTM, Trigger Points, cervical pain, lumbar pain, soft tissue mobilization, myofascial release.
Abstract
Myofascial pain is defined as a musculoskeletal condition that causes discomfort in both the muscular region of the body and the surrounding connective tissue. This discomfort might be confined to a specific point or extend across a wider area, and it can also exhibit itself through several trigger points.
This study explores how Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) impacts trigger points in the cervical and lower back of sedentary adults, particularly focusing on myofascial pain, which affects women more than men and can lead to musculoskeletal pain. Considering the effect of these trigger points, the research compared the effectiveness of combining IASTM with physical therapy against using conventional physical therapy alone.
Methodology
A randomized controlled trial study conducted at a Memon Medical Institute Hospital, Karachi-Pakistan. The research included patients both male and female between the age of 18 and 55 years who were experiencing cervical and lumbar region pain caused by active trigger points. The treatment group received myofascial release treatment using the IASTM technique with the M2T Blade along with conventional physical therapy. Standard data collection tools and techniques were employed.
Result
Findings indicated that IASTM, when combined with targeted exercises and conventional therapy, significantly reduced trigger points and improved symptoms in cervical and lumbar regions. These results were confirmed by statistical analyses performed using SPSS version 23, demonstrating the higher efficacy of IASTM over traditional therapy alone.
Conclusion
Treatment with IASTM (M2T Blade) was found to be more effective in reducing myofascial trigger points and discomfort in the cervical and lumbar regions than conventional therapy alone.
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All articles published in JPTCP are licensed under Copyright Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Mohabbat Ali
HOD, Physical & Rehabilitative Medicine, Asst. Prof. Memon College of Physical & Rehabilitative Medicine
Basit Ansari
Chairperson HPESS, University of Karachi-Pakistan
Nazish Rafique
HOD, Physiotherapy, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation
Asim Mahmood
HOD, Physiotherapy, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation